Motor plow



s. v. v. PRiNCE.

Apr. 3, 1923.

MOTOR PLOW. I ORIGINAL FILED JAN. 8. 1919.

2 SHEET SHEET 1.

s. v. v. PRINCE.

Apr. 8, 1923.

MOTOR PLOW.

ORIGINAL FILED JAN. 8. 1919- 2 SHEET -SHEET 2.

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Q-Rouaua Patented Apr. 3, 1923.

Home new.-

Application filed January 8, 1919, Serial No. 270,163. RenewedApril 13, 1922. Serial No, 552,138.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEWART V. V; PRINCE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ,Motor Plows, of which the following is a specification.

This invention" relates to motor operated implements for use "mainly in tilling the soil, preparing it for plowing and'cultivating the growing crops, and the object of the invention is to provide a motor operated implement of this character, especially for plowing, that can be manipulated by an 'attendant b means of handles and bodily controlled a er the manner of a horse-drawn plow in order to regulate the depth-and width of plowing at all times and provide for the running of the implement in a position which will prevent the plow from entering the soil, as when transporting the implement from place to place or, as is desirable, in turning when the end of a furrow is reached.

It is also the object of the invention to obtain the above-stated characteristics by a construction that will employ an endless track band for securing the requisite degree of traction with the minimum of weight, so that the bodily tilting of the implement as a whole from side to side or from front to rear, can be readily. made by the walking Y attendant for the efi'ectual control of the plow, and the implement otherwise quickly manipulated.

The invention has also for a further object a provision whereby the propelling endless track band will operate in' the furrow cut by the plow and thereby secure a surface for its travel that will produce better traction and a firmer bearing to the operating track band, while at the same timean implement is produced having 'a narrow width through the use of a single operating track band, so that it can be run between the rows of growing crops for the purposes of cultivation.

The invention consists primarily in combining a plow or other earth working device with a motondriven tractor comprising an operating endless track band as its traveling and propelling element, and lever handles for the bodily control of the implement as a whole by tilting the same.

The invention further consists in supporting a plow from and immediately in advance of a motor drive traction element having a propelling track band adapted to travel wholly within the furrow made by the plow and arranged in such'close relation to the plow as to hold back. the over-turned soil from falling into the furrow until the passage of the track band over the smooth bottom of the furrow has beenmade, and in providing a lever means extending from the traction'element whereby the attendant fol lowing may control theplow by tilting the Edevice as a .whole from side to side or fore 'In the accompanymg drawings,

Figure 1 illustrates a side view of the motor implement constructed in accordance with the invention and shown in position 0 operation, being contr, ed by a walking attendant; 4 2 is an enlarged side view of themetor element of the implement including the endless track band, drum and operating gears therefor; I

Fig. 3' is a transfer vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fi ,1 2, and Y Fig. 4 is a detail sh 1 ing thefront end of the right-hand plow siipporting beam.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 .indicates the side plates.- of the drum which forms an enclosing silpporting structure of the device,and in which are mounted-upon the shaft 11 a front pair of idler sprockets 12 which gear with and form the front guide over which the endless track band 13 travels,

while at the rear there is mounted within the drum upon the shaft 14 a pair of drive n sprocket wheels 15 which engage the links 16 of the track band and impart atraveling movement to the band from thez' fi'ontto the rear, on its under side, as is usual in this type of propulsion for the forward movement of the tractor. The shaft 11 carrying the idler sprockets, in order that it may be adjusted to take up any undue slack in the track band, and also provide for the disengagement of the idler sprocket, therewith, as

may be necessary from time to time, as when removal is'made of the track band or the said sprockets, is provided with a bearing its plate 11", on each side, which plate is secured over a shaft slot 11", in the side plates 10 of the drum, and is secured to the drum sides by means of the bolts 11, the bolt holes for which, in the side plates 10, are horizontally arranged slots toadmit of fore and aft ad" lstment of the shaft bearing plates 11*. lhis plate is bent at right angles to form a rear projection 11, against which the set screw 11 bears, for the purposes of the adjustment of the idler sprockets, as indicated. To complete the housing structure of the drum,- the sides 10 are connected by a sheet-metal band 10*, which substantially follows the contour of the sides, but is slightly inset and preferably connected to the sides by means of the angle iron strips 10", to which the sides 10 and the band 10 are riveted. At the points where the idler sprockets 12 and driving sprockets 15 engage the track band link, suitable slots are provided through. which thesprockets project into their engagement with t-he'link 16 of the track band.

By reason of the marginal projection of the side plates 10 beyond the connecting band 10*, there is provided flanges which serve to form a guide to {the links of the track band, and also furnish bearings in which are mounted, preferably upon fixed rods'17, the rollers 18, which form the bearings for the track band between the sprockets 12 and 15, and against which rollers the inside surfaces of the links 16, bear, formin the traveling support of the drum and re ucing the friction of the travel of the track band thereover.

The disposition of the pair of driving sprockets 15 near the top of the drum, and the formation of the rear portion of the utuderside of the drum, so that it slants upwardly to the driving sprockets, on an outward curve, which curve the bearing rollers follow, provides a traction portion to the track band that is designed to be brought into action by the bodily tilting up of the tractor by the attendant when it is desired to change the position of the same for the purposes heretofore, indicated.

In order that the center of gravity of the device shall be so disposed so as to permit the ready manipulation of the device as a whole by tilting the same, the motor is disposed above the drum. and its track band,

and substantially central of the normal ground bearing portion of the track band in order that the bodily change of position from side to side and from front to rear, or vice versa, may be accomplished with little effort by the attendant in disturbing the normal balance of the device.

As shown, the motor is preferably of the gasoline type, and is approximately from five to ten horse power, and comprises the cylinder 19, engine base 20, crank shaft 21,

tration thereof by the being geared byfmeans of a chain belt 25,

to a sprocket wheel 26, on the shaft 14, there being provided a sprocket 25.0n each projecting end of the shaft 14, for the uniform application of the power to each side. Any suitable mechanism may be employed .for throwing the engine into and out of operation with the shaft'23,and such clutch mechanism will be under control of the attendant by means of rods '26 extending to the hand holds of the operating lever handles, after the usual manner of such control means, and in like manner through rod 27, the gasoline feed, (not shown) may be contro led.

The endless track band 13 comprises the metal plates 13', formed to overlapl the next preceding plate on its under side, and is provided at its overlappingedge, with a V-shaped ridge 13, running transverse thereof, to furnish ground-grabbing projections to increase the traction of the track band. These plates are provided adjacent 'each end thereof with a pair of eye-luigs 13, into each pair of which is pivoted a simi lar pair of lugs 16", depending from the links of the track-operating chain, ofwhich there are two, to correspond with the pair of idlers and driving'sprockets, and which arrangement of chains and sprockets conduces to uniformity in the application of the power to the track band and provides at each side thereof the requisite support to permit uniformity and operation and support necessary, as when the deviceis shifted by sidewise tilting from' one side to the other.

In the preferred form of the-device, the

plow 28 is carried in advance of the tractor,

and is of a size sufficient to cut a furrow wide enough to receive the entire tractor base and permit its operationon the clean, firm surface cut by the plow, and to this end the connection between the plow and the tractor elementfis so close as to cause the traction element to hold back the soil which otherwise would fall back into the furrow and,

this connection the sides 10 ofithe traction element resist any tendency of the soil to fall in from either side of the furrow so that the track band is insured operation on the pan made by the plow and acts to break up the pan by the scoring and pens;

jections of the track band plates. The wall ground-grabbing proretaining function of the sides of the traction element is also eflicient in maintaining the implement as a whole in its normal or vertical position against the plow action which tends to tilt the implement to one side, and thus the operation of maintaining the normal position of the implement upon its narrow track band base is made easy for the attendant.

For the purpose of mounting the plow, there is secured to the side plates 1Q, ad-

- j acent their lower edge, metal bars or beams 29, 29', which are horizontally arranged thereon and secured to the side plates by bolts 30, which beams project in advance of the tractor. To the projection of the beam 29, the land side of the plow is attached by means of the bolts 31, and for the purpose of making the attachment strong and rigid, the bar 29 is preferably formed with-a depression, corresponding with and designed to receive, the land side, thereby causing it to be substantially flush with the outer side surface of the supporting beam.

The beam 29 on the opposite side of the tractor has its forwardly-projecting end portion bent inward and thence upward to form a support 32 to the mold board 33," to which it is attached by suitable bolts; but these projecting ends of the beam29". 29', may be varied in their form to adapt them to the various typesof plows, or one .of special design, to be used with the tractor.

Both beams 29 and 29' are formed with as it is listed to one side by the plow, there is provided one or more harrows 36 and 37 which are arranged to extend from, the rear 7 of the tractor and have their support from,

the beams 29 and 29', and which preferably project slightly to the right of the tractor, in order to be dragged through the upturned soil.' I I From the foregoing it will be seen that by the employment of a single track band to form the traveling base of the tractor, with the center of gravity substantially central thereof, the tractor as a whole is readily tilted on its traveling base from side to side, imparting the same tilting to the plow, and

' by reason of the placing of the center of gravity substantially central from front to rear, together with the upward slant of the track base at its rear, the elevation or depression of the plow is easily accomplished, and a tractor plow produced that can be manipulated by the walking attendant in the same manner as though the plow were drawn up the plow pan. Also by reason of the support given the implement upon the comparatively firm bearing surface furnished by the furrow floor the implement is adapted for use in soil too'soft upon its surface to permit the working of the same by traction means. 1

It will also be understood that by reason of the location of the. plow in front of the tractor element and in bein supported rigidly thereon, together wit the lever means extending from the rear of the traction element. the wedging action of the low assisted by downward pressure on the ever means exerts astrong downward pressure upon the tractor band to give the needed traction without the necessity of securing this traction by increase in the size and weight of the tractor element to a point impracticable for manipulation by the attendant who, when tilting of the implement is required, can release it from this downward pressure and readily accomplish the tilting actions.

What I claim is Y 1. A tillage implemr oi, comprising an extended narrow, frame, movable supporting means extending substantially throughout the base of the frame, a ground treating element connected to the forward end of said framefor movement therewith in both ,a longitudinal and transverse direction, and

control leverage means extending upwardly from the rear portion of the frame for tilting. the frame longitudinally and trans: versely. I 2. A tillage implement comprising an extended narrow frame having a rear, up-

wardly sloping counter portion,"movable supporting means extending substantially throughout the base .of the. frame and said counter portion, control leverage means extending rearwardly from said frame for tilting the same to shift the support to and from the counter portion, and a. sgil treating element supported by the frameand controlled by said tilting action.

3. A tillage implement comprising an extended narrow'frame having a base adapted to provide a rocking bearing, movable supporting means extending substantially throughout the base of the. frame upon which said frame is adapted to have rocking movement, a soil treating element supported in advance of said frame to. have control movement therewith, and control leverage means extending rearwardly from said frame for tilting the same during means extending rearwardly from said frame for tilting the same.

5. A tillage implement comprising a narrow frame having sides adapted to extend Within a furrow and maintain it free from loose soil during the passage of the implement, a furrow opener supported on the front of said frame in close relation thereto, a movable supporting means extending substantiallythroughout the base of the frame and adapted to travel upon the smooth uncovered floor of the furrow, and

control leverage means for manipulating the furrow opener.

6. A tillage implement comprising a narrow frame'having side supporting walls, a movable supporting means extending substantially throughout the base of'said frame between said side walls and adapted to travel with said frame within a furrow, a furrow opener supported on the front of said frame in close, relation thereto and adapted to form the furrow in which the frame and its support travels, and leverage means for tilting the implement in both a longitudinal and a transverse direction.

.7. A tillage implement comprising a narrow tiltable frame, a movable supporting means extending substantially throughout the base of the frame, a furrow opener supported on the front of said-frame and adapted to form a furrow for the tfavel of said movable support, means for imparting traveling movement to the movable support, and levera e means extending rearwardly from said rame, whereby to increase traction by downward pressure thereon and tilt the implement to control the action of the furrow opener. 1

8.-A tillage implement comprising a narrow frame, an endless supporting track band carried by said frame adapted to oper-/ ate within a furrow, a furrow opener sup;- ported on the front of said frame and adapted to form the furrow for the travel of the track band, and leverage means carried by said frame whereby the implement is tilted as a whole upon the base of the furrow to control the same. 4

- 9. A tillage implement comprising a narrow frame, anv endless supporting track band carried by said frame having soil penetrating projections, and adapted to operate within a furrow, a furrow opener supported on the front of said frame and adapted to form the furrow for said track band and frame, and leverage means for controlling the implement as'a whole.

10. A tillage implement comprising an extended narrow tilting frame,-a movable supporting means extending substantially throughout the base of said frame, a soil working element connected to the front of said frame to move with the tilting thereof, a hand lever extending rearwardly from said frame, and a motor mounted upon said frame directly over and'actuating said movable supporting means whereby the implement' may be tilted both longitudinally and transversely while supported within the furrow.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

STEWART V. V, PRINCE.

- Witnesses:

-HUGH M. STERIJNG, GEORGE P. MONTAGUE. 

